Obituary: Kylan UtleyDARDANELLE — Kylan Cordell Utley, age 66, of Hector, went to the Lord Monday July 24, 2017, under the kind and supportive staff’s care at Conway Regional Medical Center. He was born to the late AC and Theda Belle Utley on Jan. 2, 1951, in Fort Worth, Texas. Kylan was a member of Hector Church of Christ and a retired truck driver of 27 years. Kylan will be remembered by his loving and devoted wife of 37 years Sharon Utley, his daughter Lydia Mc...

Obituary: Bernardina MendezDANVILLE — Bernardina Lomeli Mendez, age 67, of Morrilton, passed away Sunday, July 23, 2017, at her home. She was born May 20, 1950, in Tequesquitlan, Jalisco, Mexico, to the late Jose Luz Lomeli and Exsiquia Palmas Paredes Ramirez. She was a homemaker and mother. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rafael Mendez; parents and sister, Epifania Lomeli Palmas. Survivors include her daughter, Martha and Gustavo Santos of Morrilton; son, “Ju...

Obituary: Ira HarperDARDANELLE — Ira Lee Harper, age 87, of Dardanelle, died Tuesday, July 25, 2017, at his home. He was born Feb. 17, 1930, at Logan County, to the late Ira Mack and Gertie May Atkinson Harper. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Louella Mae Harper; one son, Ira Mack Harper Sr.; one brother, Leon Harper and one sister, Dr. Bobbie Hopkins. Survivors include his children, Leslie Faulkner, Dorothy Harper, Jackie Harper Bowers, Regi...

Carnival For A CureThe Relay For Life’s Carnival For A Cure raised nearly $1,500 Saturday on the Russellville High School campus. Carnival visitors had the opportunity to view a 21 entry car show, ride horses and donkeys from Equestrian Zone, have their face painted, play carnival style games and grab a bite to eat. Jennifer Lackey with Relay For Life said there was also a booth set up for the American Cancer Society where they were able to gather a lot of signa...

Arkansas governor's son's DWI conviction overturnedFAYETTEVILLE — The drunken driving conviction of the son of Arkansas' governor has been overturned because of a problem with the ticket. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/2uSUVRK ) that a Washington County judge dismissed charges a William Asa Hutchinson III on Monday. The younger Hutchinson was arrested Jan. 24, 2016, on charges of DWI, careless driving and refusing to submit to a chemical test. He was convicted in November...

Committee begins planning for future of Arkansas judiciaryLITTLE ROCK— An Arkansas committee has met for the first time to come up with a plan for the state's judiciary. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2tWPi0h ) reports that Arkansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Dan Kemp announced his intention to create the long-term strategic agenda during his State of the Judiciary address last month. Kemp says the panel will likely address updating jury and case management systems, automating courtroo...

Trucker in deadly smuggling operation to testify next monthSAN ANTONIO — A scheduled detention hearing for a truck driver charged in the deaths of 10 immigrants found inside his sweltering tractor-trailer in San Antonio has been canceled. Federal court records show the hearing for James Matthew Bradley Jr. that was originally set for Thursday was waived and a new hearing was set for Aug. 23, when Bradley is expected to a give video deposition. Bradley, 60, of Clearwater, Florida, faces charges of ille...

Dozens charged in drug, gun probe in east ArkansasWEST MEMPHIS, Ark. (AP) — Dozens of people have been charged with gun and drug crimes by federal and state agencies in east Arkansas after a two-year investigation to address violence in the area. Authorities on Tuesday announced the unsealing of 25 federal indictments charging 43 defendants in an operation aimed at curbing drug trafficking and drug violence in West Memphis and Crittenden County. Including defendants charged in state court, la...

Appeals court reverses reprimand of attorneys in ArkansasLITTLE ROCK — A federal appeals court panel has reversed a judge's decision to reprimand five attorneys, including the husband of an Arkansas Supreme Court justice, who he said had dismissed a case in order to find a court they believed would be more favorable. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel on Tuesday reversed the reprimand issued by Chief U.S. District Court Judge P.K. Holmes III last year. Holmes had reprimanded John Goodson — ...

Convention center plans completely finishedThe Russellville City Council approved another extension for developer David Hunt to start construction of The Landing convention center and hotel during its July meeting. The council approved an ordinance that would amend the original construction contract with Hunt, which was originally signed in 2015. Hunt entered the City Hall council chambers with a large bundle of designs. He told aldermen the plans were finally 100 percent complete. "Si...

Ribbon cuttingTHE COURIER / Submitted Diamond Bank of Arkansasâ recently opened their brand new building in Russellville with a ribbon cutting. For more information about their services, give them a call at 479-967-0090.

Reprinted from a 1972 edition of the Courier-DemocratReprinted from a 1972 edition of the Courier-Democrat. Signing an autograph for Lance Talkington of Russellville is University of Arkansas football place kicker Bill McClard. An apparent victory assuring field goal by McClard was nullified by a holding call against the Razorback in the 1971 Liberty Bowl game with Tennessee at Memphis. A note to Talkington's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Randy Talkington, from the Memphis sports writer sending the phot...

Dardanelle Police Beatâ ˘ The Dardanelle Police Department responded to a disturbance involving a gun and a knife at 1949 State Highway 22 on Monday. When officers arrived, they were told the disturbance was over an incident that had occurred on Saturday, somewhere in Yell County. An argument started between several persons at the address, which allegedly led to a gun being drawn and pointed at one of the persons and a knife being pointed at another. Two people wer...

Dover City Council goes over grantsVarious grant proposals were the main topic of discussion at last Tuesday's monthly meeting of the Dover City Council. Cassie Elliot of Visionary Milestones presented for approval an application prepared by her company for a federal Community Economic Development block grant designed for areas with at least 55 percent low-to-moderate family income. The application calls for $33,154 toward the purchase of radios, turnout gear, and a thermal ima...

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BY STEVE LEAVELL
sleavell@cswnet.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Arkansas audit finds city funds mishandledCAVE SPRINGS — Officials in the northwest Arkansas city of Cave Springs mismanaged taxpayer dollars, overcompensated employees and made purchases above allowed amounts, according to state auditors. The Arkansas Legislative Audit released a report saying the city failed to meet state law requirements in 22 instances from 2015 to 2016, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (http://bit.ly/2uxlNDZ ) reported. The audit said Cave Springs put more...

Rapper from Little Rock club shooting held in separate caseLITTLE ROCK — A federal magistrate declared Monday that the rapper who was performing at a Little Rock club during a mass shooting was too dangerous to cut loose pending a trial on a separate weapons charge, rejecting arguments that gunplay captured on video and a tough-guy persona were just part of an act. Ricky Hampton of Memphis, Tennessee, who performs under the name Finese2Tymes, was indicted this month on a charge of illegally possessing...